Toshiba has announced major strategic expansions to its already extensive range of microcontrollers. The TXZ+ family is a new series of 32-bit microcontrollers based on Arm Cortex processor cores.
The family is divided into two classes of devices with the first, the advanced TXZxA+ microcontrollers, manufactured in a 40nm CMOS process technology. These feature an Arm Cortex-M3 or Cortex-M4 processor core with FPU. The second is the entry-levelTXZxE+ class, which uses a 130nm CMOS process and an Arm Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3, or Cortex-M4 processor core.
Arm Cortex processor cores
With the introduction of the new TXZ+ family, Toshiba is focusing its microcontroller strategy on industry-standard Arm Cortex processor cores, which are highly energy efficient and suitable for real-time control applications. Equipped with Toshiba's original and highly functional IP blocks, the devices are suitable for a variety of end-user applications such as home appliances, industrial and motor control applications, communications and data processing.
The TXZxA+ advanced class is Toshiba's third generation of microcontrollers based on Arm Cortex cores. The devices provide superior performance with operating frequencies of up to 200MHz (254 DMIPS) while dissipating approximately 30% less heat than existing 65nm devices.
Toshiba will deliver a line of microcontrollers that are functionally aligned and pin compatible with existing 65nm TXZ devices, enabling customers to seamlessly migrate to the new microcontroller family. Features include an integrated high-precision oscillator and pre-drivers.
A single-supply regulator is also integrated, operating without requiring external capacitors, saving on BOM costs and board size. The TXZxA+ microcontroller is a scalable platform with modular IP blocks that simplifies software design and reuse. A wide range of packages compatible in footprint with other product families simplifies PCB design.
